Taking time off baseball after high school to work on my game?

Out of sight becomes out of mind.  

I think this is a bad idea and really recommend you not do this.  Everything you want to do to improve can be done while playing so why take that time off?  What are you going to do the next two years that will allow you to work out without getting a job or going to school?  

Go to a college that will allow you to play and get to work on everything you want to work on.  But make sure whatever school you go to has the major you want because end of the day you will need to get a real job after your playing days are over.

How do you think you would be getting better during that time than those who are in a college program, working everyday to be better?  I think you are starting from a premise which is questionable, made even more questionable by the belief that you "know" you are good enough now, based on what HS or travel coaches have said.

You only  "know" once you have done it. That lasts until tomorrow when each player needs to prove they are good enough again.

Another problem with your approach is once you enter college, the clock probably starts running, at least  for the NCAA programs, for your  baseball eligibility.

What you want to do makes no sense. If you believe you can be one of the best you're pro material. You don't want to be entering the minors at twenty-four. If you're not pro material why waste two years. Find a talent appropriate level of college ball and start playing. As for your ability it doesn't matter what your coaches say. What matters is the interest you get from college coaches. Since you believe you can be one if the best how many college baseball programs have contacted you?

FlyEmerites7

You don't become better in a vacuum.  A player and a team get better with instruction, competition, teamwork and playing together.  You need to play in games and work on your physical tools during the season and offseason.  Trust me, your coaches will teach you all about that! 

What you are suggesting is going to put a lot of pressure on you to deliver things you won't be capable of because you never experienced them.   Baseball is a difficult sport and it requires a lot of practice & repetition just to be good 30% of the time.  Your coaches can teach you new things to improve your game.

Good luck!

It depends.  If you have trouble gaining weight, or keeping on weight it might be a good idea.

Your college pitching coach may or may not be helpful in individual velo improvement.  You should ask around.

If you're having PT issues, then it might be a good idea.

Hi guys, thanks for the responses. I just wanted to add, and I think this particular opinion probably matters the most, is that a local junior college pitching coach whom I have done pitching lessons with in the past told me that I would be an average player in the ACCAC (Arizona juco league conference). But like I said, it was just a thought that I could take a year or two off of baseball to gain weight, physical strength, and velocity. Once again, it might sound selfish, but I really don't want to step on a college field unless I'm one of the best players talent wise. That includes a fastball of at least 90 mph, and all my offspeed that would be considered above average. I'm 6'1, and I want to be around the 190 lb area, while I'm now at 170. I started a strength/conditioning program at this very well known athletic facility here (Pro Advantage Training) and I feel that at least a year of just focusing on strength training and long toss/velo training only, would do wonders for me on the field. Not really having to worry about in-season mode for a year, a whole entire year, or two years, will be my "offseason" mode where I can make really, really big gains. I really don't want to join a college team throwing only 85... cause EVERYBODY in college throws 85. How exactly will I stand out ONLY throwing 85?? Sorry if that sounds selfish, but unfortunately that's true.

Once again, this is just a thought and I haven't decided on anything yet. As far as coaches contacting me, yes, there have been a few, but those particular schools (four-years) don't quite fit me academically. The schools that I WANTED to go to, never responded back to me or have shown little to no interest. So this is kind of why I'm leaning on going towards this route. Definitely a road less traveled on, but I think it might be right for me, so I can attain my individual goals.

Also, what's wrong with entering the minor leagues at age 24? Aren't there a lot of 24 year olds in the minors? And even independent ball, aren't a lot of "rookies" just about that age too? My brother is 24 and he just now came back to juco ball this year after not playing at all since the fall of 2009. Like, if he chooses to transfer to a four year school (he can only do DII or DIII because his D1 clock ran out) he could be as old as 26 when he's done.... He pretty much had the same mentality as me, that he didn't want to come back to baseball unless he was one of the better pitchers out there, and he pretty much had to because of his age.

There's a time when you can jump on the ladder, and there's a time when you have to start at the bottom. If you aren't pretty close to the top now, it's a pretty big stretch to think one year will put you there. The big risk you take is if you don't improve much, now you're a year older with similar talent, which makes you that much less marketable.

If I've got two players with similar skills, and they're four years apart, I can tell you which one I'm investing in, and it's not the one with the ticking clock. Let me ask you this-you just admitted your brother limited his options by taking a similar path. Why would you go that route?

Matt,

In regards to my brother, he quit baseball after fall 2009 because he had a bunch of other issues he was dealing with, and he was, at the time, burnt out. He didn't want to go to school, nor did he want to play baseball anymore at the time. He was just working at T-Mobile full time for the past 4+ years or so. He really just hated himself for "quitting" and wanted to go back so that he can finally put his mind at peace, at least give it a shot, you know? But he knew he had to be legit, cause he was gonna play with kids 4-5 years younger than him. So he spent all of last year just working out and all that stuff.

Me, I'm not exactly "quitting." I just want to be good. Like, I want to be a legit player. A difference maker. I want to stand out and will just about do anything. Yeah I can work hard at college practice and stuff, but that won't necessarily make my talent that much better; and in all honestly, I feel that if I were to go into a college program in the fall, the only compliment I'll get from coaches is "he's a hard worker." No, I don't want to be just a hard worker, I want to be talented!! And I will work for it.

What makes you think you'll be throwing 90 mph with improved off speed pitches? What makes you think the out-of-baseball training you'll be doing is better than the training a collegiate program would have you doing? Reading your comments makes me assume you think your training will be better than training would be in college. That contradicts my opinion of college baseball. What makes you think you'll be a better pitcher even if you do reach your desired velocity? 

LOTS of risk here, not much opportunity for reward. Just as everyone else has said, I don't really know why you would do this. There's not much upside to it.

If you're not viewed as a hard worker, you'd better have extraordinary natural talent (which we can see isn't the case.)  Talent flows from hard work. The reality is that it doesn't matter why you're going away from organized baseball--it just matters that you are away from it. Players leave all the time for various reasons (some very legitimate, some less so,) and the one thing that is constant is that the river keeps moving, whether they're on it or not. They can't just leave for a year and come back to the same spot; they have to have progressed at least a year talent-wise and get back to the river at the place they would have been if they had never left, which most can't do...because of what Josh said:

If the idea of taking a year off was a good one, you'd be seeing players do it in droves and coming back to successful careers.

Evan Gattis? David Freese? Didn't Daniel Nava not play for at least two years because he was the equipment manager for his college or something like that? Or are they just seen are extraordinary talents, and exemptions? What about kids who redshirt? I know kids here that redshirt, and don't even go to practice or games. Heck, I even know some kids who redshirted for a year and went to ASU or UofA full time, during that timeframe. Like, at least if I were to redshirt or not play for a year, I'd be doing something everyday to get better.

Not trying to argue or troll by any means, and I see and understand what you all are trying to tell me. 

FlyEmirates7- I don't think you'd be arguing if you understood what we're telling you. You've received advice from some people that have an awful lot of experience in the game…some who are still active in the game. At the end of the day, it's your decision. You seem to have your mind already set. You know what the consensus is here. Best of luck.

You are correct, those are the exceptions that prove the rule. If you feel like doing some research and math, figure out how many MLB players there are and what percentage of them took a year off at some point after high school.

The thing is, in the summer leagues I work, there are guys who "took a year off." These are some former pro and D1 players that, in general, had a situation where family or something like that caused them to have to make a choice. The reason that they are playing in summer leagues against lower-level collegiate players is because that's the only place they'll ever have a chance to play again--and these guys are head and shoulders above most of the rest of the field. College coaches don't need a junior that took a year off when he's got three underclassmen that are just as good with more eligibility. Pro teams don't need a 24-year-old who's an average A-ball pitcher when they can pick up a 20-year-old nearly anytime they want.

I feel for these guys (and I've gotten to know some of them pretty well.) That year off turned into "what could have been."

Good luck on taking the year (or two) off.  From reading your posts I would venture to guess that is what you're going to do.  Come back in a year or two and let us know how it went.  Question is - after two years off and you doing your own workout what happens if you haven't improved any?  At that point would looking back help you see the error or your way?

FlyEmirates7,

Committed players take a "keep swimming or die" attitude and realize their only chance to move ahead is to stay on a roster some place where they can play.  

That's why you see so many college players start at a D1, drop down to D2/D3 and sometimes drop down again to NAIA if that's what it takes to keep playing.  They know the only way to attract the attention of coaches at the level they want to play is to play well some place else.  If you're not on a roster and in a line up, you're not in the game.

Citing MLB exceptions is only relevant if you have MLB-level talent and commitment.  99.99+% of baseball players find their options continuously narrow each year as they get older.  There are many more exit ramps than on ramps.  Once players voluntarily take an exit ramp, they are usually done.  

Q.  What do you call a healthy player who is taking a year off from baseball?

A. A former baseball player.

FE,

I saw Daniel Nava play at age 13 and know his story pretty well since our son worked out with him when Daniel was trying to hook on with a team after college.

One part of his story is he only played one year at Santa Clara, following 2 at a JC because he spent his freshman year at SCU when he did not make the team.

The other aspect is Daniel did have wonderful skills. HIs issue was size, strength, power and explosiveness.  As a freshman in HS, our son was 4'11" and less than 100lbs. Daniel was smaller than that.

He had the talent and skills to play college baseball as  freshman at SCU. He did not have the size or strength to compete. He could barely get the ball past the infielders.

Two things occurred at that point: Daniel was  unbelievable in the weight room(his Father taught local boot camp classes) and he grew.  Those latter two changes occurred after HS so his talent and skills could finally play and be recognized.

If that size and strength issue is you and you have that less than 1% mental make up(his workouts were incredible) then go for it. 

If you take that path, remember that not only are the odds against you,  your baseball clock starts ticking the minute you start college and is still running the entire time you are in college and not playing.

Fly ...

Everyone here is telling you not to follow your plan. Everyone here is or has been heavily involved in the game. Among those telling you "don't do it" are parents of college players, parents of pro players and a pro scout. Why do you believe you are right when you don't have the experience? How many players do you know who followed your two year plan out of high school? Even if you hit 90 you're a risk from not playing for two years. Every D1 recruit hits 90. You won't be special, just older and less experienced which equals higher risk for the coach.

You've met teenagers before, yes?

I've observed an interesting phenomenon. As my kids (26 & 21) get older and mature I've become smarter. Twelve years ago my daughter was a talking doll. Pull her cord to hear her say, "Oh (with angst), you just don't understand." There isnt bigger drama than a 14yo girl. My son was an eye roller. His eyes said, "Whatever" (with sarcasm).

Fly; your a pitcher?

"True Story" Willie Mays in an All Star game faced Luis Arroyo, a little LHP and on a 3-1 count he threw Willie a change up. Willie hit the ball deep into the LF seats.

10 years later he is facing Luis Arroyo again and on a 3-1 count he throws Willie a "change up". Guess where it landed?

"You learn by playing the game, not talking the game".

Hitters have a long memory and so do pitchers.

Bob

"Founder of the Area Code games and Goodwill Series International"

FlyEmirates,

Is it fair to say you lack some confidence? Players do develop at different times.  Some early on, some in college.  Throwing 90 or better isn't something all pitchers reach at the same age.  The smaller colleges and Jucos have many 90 mph guys that threw mid 80s in high school.  They just developed later on by playing and learning.

I think what people here are telling you is you don't need to take years off in order to get better.  Most people get better by actually playing the game.  If I were you and baseball was that important, I would be looking for colleges that have a track record of developing pitchers.

Swampboy,

I find myself usually agreeing with your opinions. However, one small thing... NAIA is not necessarily a step down from DII or DIII. In fact, there are some NAIA teams that would be middle of the pack or better in DI. And yes, some NAIA schools would be a step down. Also some of the better scholarship deals are offered at NAIA schools. Just wanted to clear that up because it seems people sometimes look down their nose at the NAIA. The last NAIA team I coached had a roster that included two future MLB pitchers, An outfielder that made it to AAA, a catcher and a shortstop that signed pro contracts and none of those guys was our best pitcher or player. At the time there were three DI colleges in our state, none of which could even come close in talent.

PGStaff, 

Point taken.  I shouldn't have used the phrase "drop down" because it distracts from my point, which is that the normal choice for a ballplayer at a crossroads in his college career is to make a move that lets him stay on the field even in the face of ever narrowing options.  

I was referring to players who start out at a D1 and for whatever reason--grades, injury, competition, maturity--don't get playing time.  They often choose D2/D3 over transferring to another D1 and sitting out because they know they need to play to keep the dream alive.  When NCAA options run out, a fair number find they can keep playing if they switch to an NAIA school.  It's not an up or down move--it's an "I gotta keep playing somewhere" move.

And I was contrasting that thirst to play with the OP's assumption that he can spend a year not being part of a program and get closer to his baseball goals. 

I definitely wasn't trying to re-ignite the debate over how divisions and organizations compare.

Regards, 

S